Are both teacher recs in Common App treated equally, or primary/secondary?

[Anonymous]

DC has one rec from a longtime teacher that is likely far more revealing and strong than the second rec. He'd like that one read first but it's listed second in the Common App (counselor imports them through Naviance).

We're overthinking this, right? Does it matter how they're listed?

It scares me when you hear they spend 3-5 minutes per application.

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking

[Anonymous]

How would you know what each recommendation is going to write? I understand you *think* one will be better than the other, but both were chosen to provide a strong recommendation, right? In theory, you wouldn't have asked for the second if it's wasn't strong at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are overthinking

+1

They will skim both equally lightly.

With the LORs and counselor letters, they are really just checking to see if anything unusual jumps out, or if there is mention of special circumstances that might shed light on something in the app. They assume these letters will be shades of “good”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you know what each recommendation is going to write? I understand you *think* one will be better than the other, but both were chosen to provide a strong recommendation, right? In theory, you wouldn't have asked for the second if it's wasn't strong at all.

Some require the second

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you know what each recommendation is going to write? I understand you *think* one will be better than the other, but both were chosen to provide a strong recommendation, right? In theory, you wouldn't have asked for the second if it's wasn't strong at all.

Some require the second

I understand that - every application my kid has done requires two. But why would you ask for a recommendation from someone you weren't so sure about?